Reply to: Asking for time off

[Wilmslow]

As a permie I tell.

However, as a contractor I asked - not that I took much, the money machine makes you not want to take many holidays as a contractor!

[Doggy Styles]

I haven't seen these rules. Or followed them.

But it seems they're not essential as I've been in contract for the last 9 years. Lucky me, eh?

I think I'll carry on using my "happy to apologise, happy to explain" approach.

WHS

I can't see any reason for the "I do what I want because I've got big bollocks" approach.

[EternalOptimist]

I haven't seen these rules. Or followed them.

But it seems they're not essential as I've been in contract for the last 9 years. Lucky me, eh?

I think I'll carry on using my "happy to apologise, happy to explain" approach.

you turd. you make the rest of us look bad.


fck em, fck em all. thats what I say

[Chugnut]

One of the rules of contracting is 'never apologise, never explain'. Therefore, for one-off absences, don't ask for time off, that is permyish and they may ask you to explain. Simply inform them, or if it's just a day, don't bother turning up. Unless it's near a go-live They won't really care (but they may act like they care) as they're not paying for the absence. If you really feel the need, then call in sick.

I haven't seen these rules. Or followed them.

But it seems they're not essential as I've been in contract for the last 9 years. Lucky me, eh?

I think I'll carry on using my "happy to apologise, happy to explain" approach.

[Alf W]

Neither. I inform them I will personally be unavailable but reassure that I will make sure they are not adversely affected. All with plenty of notice.

[Turion]

One of the rules of contracting is 'never apologise, never explain'. Therefore, for one-off absences, don't ask for time off, that is permyish and they may ask you to explain. Simply inform them, or if it's just a day, don't bother turning up. Unless it's near a go-live They won't really care (but they may act like they care) as they're not paying for the absence. If you really feel the need, then call in sick.

[NickFitz]

Time off?

You mean... not invoicing?

[shoes]

I send an email to relevant project manager/whoever along the lines of "Im not going to be here from x to y, let me know if this is inconvenient".

It's never been inconvenient. If it ever was I would either modify my plans to make them more convenient for my client or I would sympathise with their inconvenience and still be unavailable.

Depending on how sick I was of the contract.


A sensible answer because I didn't understand the joke.

[Board Game Geek]

If a Client gets funny about having to "approve" holiday requests, they need to be aware that by doing so they are guilty of direction and control, and all the problems that will cause them, if they are treating you as a "disguised employee".

Always be polite when booking holiday, and given them plenty of notice, but remember, as contractors we nicely advise the Client that we are taking time off. We shouldn't need to ask permission.

[Ravello]

I'm not really interested in a serious answer to this question...

Which will almost certainly ensure that this will become the most successful poll in CUK history.

[NotAllThere]

Good link though.

[Ravello]

Do they never decline?

I do try and be reasonable about it and give plenty of notice if it's a significant amount of time - so no it's not happened yet.

(Tempting as it is to take a couple of weeks off at project delivery)

[ratewhore]

I guess the fact that the joke was in the link has meant this thread has backfired somewhat.

I'm not really interested in a serious answer to this question...

[zara_backdog]

Just say I need the time off, but I normally check it will not be an issue first.

[Bagpuss]

Tell. But to be fair that's not much different to when I was a permie, I didn't ask then either.

Do they never decline?